Monstrous Regiment by Terry Pratchett 389 pages

If you've ever read any Pratchett, I don't need to tell you that you'll enjoy this book.  With his usual wit and vivid writing, he tells the story of Polly.  Polly is a young woman who lives in a war torn country.  Not many people are left to join the army, Polly's brother joined up some time ago and has never returned.  Many of the men who do return, don't come back whole.  It's a real mess and Polly is very worried about her brother.  There's nothing for it but to pretend to be a man and join the army herself.  Remarkably, there's a whole set of new recruits lining up the day she goes to sign up.  It becomes less surprising how there were so many young "men" still around to join pretty soon, though.  If you liked Mulan, you'll love this!  Pratchett does an excellent job of writing female characters with depth and range, too.  It's so refreshing!  

King and Maxwell by David Baldacci 419 pages

In this 6th installment of the King & Maxwell series, we are shown once again how Baldacci draws us in, hold our attention and keeps us turning those pages until we reach the conclusion! 
It was a dark and stormy night...literally, when Michelle Maxwell spots a teenager running down the side of the road with a gun in his hand.  Tyler Wingo has just been informed that his father was killed in Afghanistan, leaving him alone in the world except for a step-mother he really does not know.  Then, a couple of days later, he receives an e-mail from his father.  How can this be?  Tyler hires former Secret Service agents turned private investigators, King and Maxwell, to find the truth about his father.  It will not be easy, but you better believe it will be exciting!  This book is a thriller filled with a little bit of sexual tension thrown in for good measure.  I recommend it to all mystery lovers.

Never Go Back by Lee Child 400 pages

Oh, yes!  Best-selling author Lee Child has another winner on his hands!  Jack Reacher has been set up!  He finally makes it back to Virginia to put a face to the sexy, husky voice at the other end of a phone line, belonging to Major Susan Turner.  She is the new Commanding Officer of Reacher's old unit, the 110th MP.  Only Major Susan is in jail, for taking a bribe and the new CO informs Reacher that he has been recalled.  He is back in the army to face not one, but two charges!  A paternity suit and a criminal charge that he beat a witness.  Proving both himself and Susan innocent, breaking out of jail, avoid 4 thugs, and meeting the 14-year-old who may be his daughter make this a fast paced story that will keep the pages turning.  Just keep a coin handy while reading this....heads or tails, yes or no, always a 50-50 chance that Reacher will succeed. You'll see what I mean.